We propose to continue the follow-up of the Nurses' Health Study II, a cancer epidemiology cohort of 116,430 women enrolled at ages 25 to 42 years in 1989. The cohort is currently supported as an R0I. Consistent with NCI policy, we are now applying for support of the infrastructure through a cooperative agreement. The NHSII biorepository includes plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and first morning urine samples from 29,611 women; for two thirds of these women we have timed follicular and luteal premenopausal samples. Over 16,000 provided a 2nd blood/urine sample in 2008-11 when the majorities were postmenopausal, and we have cheek cell DNA from an additional 29,859 women. We have collected archival tissue blocks for incident breast and ovarian cancers and melanoma (approximately 70% of requested have been obtained). We have created tissue microarrays for breast cancers that are already being used extensively. Prediagnostic mammograms have been collected for breast cancer cases and controls, as well as pathology material from previous biopsies of benign lesions. The follow-up of the NHSII cohort, conducted every two years, has been high and accounts for 93% of potential person-time. We have nearly complete ascertainment of deaths using the National Death Index and other methods. The NHSII cohort is unique in many ways, as the only large cohort of women enrolled before menopause, with information on smoking, weight, medication use, and medical diagnoses updated every 2 years and information on diet and physical activity updated every four years. Further, we have collected detailed on in utero and infant exposures (from participants' mothers), diet during high school, and other valuable exposure information. This cohort has been highly productive; over 150 papers have been published during the last five years, and the rate of publication is increasingly rapidly. This cohort is a member of the NCI Cohort Consortium, has participated in many collaborative studies, and has an active resource-sharing component. Enhancements of the cohort infrastructure involve assessment of breast tumor DNA methylation and RNA expression and the gut microbiome, and development of software to account for measurement error.

Public Health Relevance

The goal is to continue the follow-up of the NHSII, a cohort of women with repeated, cycle timed biomarkers and measures of diet, physical activity, and other exposures over several decades. Cohort follow-up is reaching the most informative phase and is a unique resource for scientific aims that integrate diet, other lifestyle variables, biomarkers, genetic predisposition and mediating variables in relation to cancer.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project with Complex Structure Cooperative Agreement (UM1)
Project #
5UM1CA176726-03
Application #
8885753
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZCA1-SRLB-9 (J1))
Program Officer
Mahabir, Somdat
Project Start
2013-06-01
Project End
2018-05-31
Budget Start
2015-06-01
Budget End
2016-05-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$1,978,971
Indirect Cost
$700,667
Name
Harvard University
Department
Nutrition
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
149617367
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02115
Whitcomb, Brian W; Purdue-Smithe, Alexandra; Hankinson, Susan E et al. (2018) Menstrual Cycle Characteristics in Adolescence and Early Adulthood Are Associated With Risk of Early Natural Menopause. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 103:3909-3918
Mu, Fan; Harris, Holly R; Rich-Edwards, Janet W et al. (2018) A Prospective Study of Inflammatory Markers and Risk of Endometriosis. Am J Epidemiol 187:515-522
Strohmaier, Susanne; Devore, Elizabeth E; Vetter, Celine et al. (2018) Night Shift Work Before and During Pregnancy and Offspring Weight Outcomes Through Adolescence. Obesity (Silver Spring) 26:1491-1500
Stuart, Jennifer J; Tanz, Lauren J; Cook, Nancy R et al. (2018) Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy and 10-Year Cardiovascular Risk Prediction. J Am Coll Cardiol 72:1252-1263
Boutot, Maegan E; Purdue-Smithe, Alexandra; Whitcomb, Brian W et al. (2018) Dietary Protein Intake and Early Menopause in the Nurses' Health Study II. Am J Epidemiol 187:270-277
Tahir, Muna J; Michels, Karin B; Willett, Walter C et al. (2018) Age at Introduction of Solid Food and Obesity Throughout the Life Course. Obesity (Silver Spring) 26:1611-1618
Papantoniou, Kyriaki; Devore, Elizabeth E; Massa, Jennifer et al. (2018) Rotating night shift work and colorectal cancer risk in the nurses' health studies. Int J Cancer 143:2709-2717
Wei, Melissa Y; Mukamal, Kenneth J (2018) Multimorbidity, Mortality, and Long-Term Physical Functioning in 3 Prospective Cohorts of Community-Dwelling Adults. Am J Epidemiol 187:103-112
Houghton, Lauren C; Sisti, Julia S; Hankinson, Susan E et al. (2018) Estrogen Metabolism in Premenopausal Women Is Related to Early Life Body Fatness. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 27:585-593
Rice, Megan S; Rist, Pamela M; Winter, Anke C et al. (2018) Migraine and invasive epithelial ovarian cancer risk in the Nurses' Health Study II and the Women's Health Study. Int J Cancer 142:534-539

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